Syrian civil war
Discussion
I couldn't see a post on this. After years of "relative" peace suddenly it's all kicked off again with anti-government forces making significant gains and into Aleppo already.
Quite a few unsavoury groups involved along with Turkish-backed rebels. I assume some of this is due to the Russian's being distracted and reducing forces in the region?
Ceasefire in Lebanon was nice to see this week, only for this to flare up in the region. What a mess!
Edited to add a link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly27r5p0yno
Quite a few unsavoury groups involved along with Turkish-backed rebels. I assume some of this is due to the Russian's being distracted and reducing forces in the region?
Ceasefire in Lebanon was nice to see this week, only for this to flare up in the region. What a mess!
Edited to add a link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly27r5p0yno
HTS leadership spent the last few years preparing for it by consolidating Idlib, uniting the disparate factions and investing heavily in statebuilding and military training.
Lot's of lessons from the Russian invasion (see the amount of drone usage the last few days) and as you said Russia, Iran and their proxies including Hizbollah are in shambles.
Assad's forces seem to have just collapsed in Aleppo.
Lot's of lessons from the Russian invasion (see the amount of drone usage the last few days) and as you said Russia, Iran and their proxies including Hizbollah are in shambles.
Assad's forces seem to have just collapsed in Aleppo.
Short of the Kurds (controversial take) who aren't really involved in this current attack, I don't think there are any "good guys".
Certainly not the Islamist HTS (Al-Qaeda/ISIS background) who appear to be spearheading the current attack. Maybe the Turkish backed SNA (Syrian National Army) who I think are involved in the current fighting with HTS as allies of convenience are "as good as it gets" from the current combatants but it's a pretty low bar.
Unfortunately for everyday Syrians there aren't many great options here, although I'm not sure how successful long-term an Islamist group will be in Syria if HTS were ultimately able to overthrow Assad.
Certainly not the Islamist HTS (Al-Qaeda/ISIS background) who appear to be spearheading the current attack. Maybe the Turkish backed SNA (Syrian National Army) who I think are involved in the current fighting with HTS as allies of convenience are "as good as it gets" from the current combatants but it's a pretty low bar.
Unfortunately for everyday Syrians there aren't many great options here, although I'm not sure how successful long-term an Islamist group will be in Syria if HTS were ultimately able to overthrow Assad.
Biker 1 said:
Will there be some sort of march every Saturday in London? Will BBC journalists be encouraged to wear Syrian flag colours? Or perhaps the Russian & Syrian air forces will be condemned for not using precision munitions?
Nope, hundreds of thousands of Muslims killed by other Muslims don't warrant a mention. Syria, Yemen, various African warzones; no one's bothered. Muslims killed by Israelis is where the sympathy begins. TwigtheWonderkid said:
Biker 1 said:
Will there be some sort of march every Saturday in London? Will BBC journalists be encouraged to wear Syrian flag colours? Or perhaps the Russian & Syrian air forces will be condemned for not using precision munitions?
Nope, hundreds of thousands of Muslims killed by other Muslims don't warrant a mention. Syria, Yemen, various African warzones; no one's bothered. Muslims killed by Israelis is where the sympathy begins. The British Govt. isn't licking Assad's arse and selling him bombs to defend "his inalienable right to exist"
Countdown said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Biker 1 said:
Will there be some sort of march every Saturday in London? Will BBC journalists be encouraged to wear Syrian flag colours? Or perhaps the Russian & Syrian air forces will be condemned for not using precision munitions?
Nope, hundreds of thousands of Muslims killed by other Muslims don't warrant a mention. Syria, Yemen, various African warzones; no one's bothered. Muslims killed by Israelis is where the sympathy begins. The British Govt. isn't licking Assad's arse and selling him bombs to defend "his inalienable right to exist"
Here’s the key difference: Israel and its supporters often assert that they have a right to ongoing actions that many consider atrocities, which are openly endorsed by the Israeli government and its representatives and many atrocity deniers in the UK.
In contrast, no one can deny that Syria, Iran, Russia, and similar regimes are clearly despotic and have the blood of millions of innocents on their hand.
The fallacy that Israel should be able to commit ongoing war crimes because it’s neighbours do to is rust plain ridiculous.
The focus should be on holding all parties—whether the Syrian or Russian governments, or any other group—accountable for human rights violations and the suffering of civilians.
Supporting a cause or highlighting atrocities isn’t about endorsing one side over another, but about recognizing the killing and injustices perpetrated by war criminals, no matter where they come from.
Assad, Putin, Netanyahu, MBS, the leaders of the UAE, and Iran all deserve to be held accountable for their crimes.
There is also another difference when it comes to Israel: many of its supporters deny the existence of their war crimes, and it cannot be ignored that a government, elected by its people, openly endorses ethnic cleansing and illegal settlements.
Yet some continue to claim Israel is a liberal democracy, a beacon of civilization. In reality, those who defend or commit such actions are no different from any other despotic regime that perpetrates atrocities without facing any meaningful accountability.
I do agree though that’s what’s happening in Syria is just as despicable and it’s sad to see that they get ignored by the world and unfortunately it’s the innocents who pay the price..
In contrast, no one can deny that Syria, Iran, Russia, and similar regimes are clearly despotic and have the blood of millions of innocents on their hand.
The fallacy that Israel should be able to commit ongoing war crimes because it’s neighbours do to is rust plain ridiculous.
The focus should be on holding all parties—whether the Syrian or Russian governments, or any other group—accountable for human rights violations and the suffering of civilians.
Supporting a cause or highlighting atrocities isn’t about endorsing one side over another, but about recognizing the killing and injustices perpetrated by war criminals, no matter where they come from.
Assad, Putin, Netanyahu, MBS, the leaders of the UAE, and Iran all deserve to be held accountable for their crimes.
There is also another difference when it comes to Israel: many of its supporters deny the existence of their war crimes, and it cannot be ignored that a government, elected by its people, openly endorses ethnic cleansing and illegal settlements.
Yet some continue to claim Israel is a liberal democracy, a beacon of civilization. In reality, those who defend or commit such actions are no different from any other despotic regime that perpetrates atrocities without facing any meaningful accountability.
I do agree though that’s what’s happening in Syria is just as despicable and it’s sad to see that they get ignored by the world and unfortunately it’s the innocents who pay the price..
Here’s an idea - there’s already a massive thread running about Isreal, why not keep your inane ratings for that one Fizzy?
I’m just interested in Syria, as it seems another Iraq emerging with power vacuums and Islamic loons running rampant.
I’m just confused as to who ‘we’ should be supporting - the Islamic loons, the rebels, the Russians, the Iranians or even Assad himself.
I’m just interested in Syria, as it seems another Iraq emerging with power vacuums and Islamic loons running rampant.
I’m just confused as to who ‘we’ should be supporting - the Islamic loons, the rebels, the Russians, the Iranians or even Assad himself.
The UK has funded a few hundred million to the FSA + (some other "moderate opposition groups). The US has funded and been involved directly in air strikes backing the SDF and a few others.
Wagner / Russia presence has reduced massively, the local Gov forces couldnt really care less as seen by their swift withdrawl from Aleppo
who should we support? - no idea
Wagner / Russia presence has reduced massively, the local Gov forces couldnt really care less as seen by their swift withdrawl from Aleppo
who should we support? - no idea
CharlieCrocodile said:
Square Leg said:
Who are the good guys?
Who should we be rooting for?
Dare I say it, Assad, as he seems to be the least worst option. HTS are definitely the bad guys here.Who should we be rooting for?
This is another proxy war by the West against a leader they don't like because he doesn't recognize Israel. We are not the good guys here, and nor are our proxy forces.
Biker 1 said:
The Turkish government have a hand in this. Why are the provoking this? Willy waving to prove how week Iran & hizballah have become?
If the country next door to you has a civil war with multiple factions, most of which are horrific, you'd be mad not to actively support the least worst option.Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff